---
name: "Donald Glover"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/donald-glover"
fi1m_id: "donald-glover"
imdb_id: "nm2255973"
tmdb_id: 119589
wikidata_id: "Q1239933"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Director"]
born: "25 September 1983"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 13
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-01T22:09:06.433862+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Donald Glover

## Identity

Donald Glover

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/donald-glover
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** donald-glover
- **IMDb ID:** nm2255973
- **TMDB ID:** 119589
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1239933
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Glover, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1239933, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2255973/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119589

Actor and writer. Born 25 September 1983 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Director
- **Born:** 25 September 1983, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA
- **Active:** 2006–present
- **Also known as:** Childish Gambino, Donald McKinley Glover Jr., Donald Glover II
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 13: 9 acting, 2 directing, 1 writing, 1 crew
- **Frequently works with:** [Adamma Ebo](https://film.one/person/adamma-ebo.md), [Amy Seimetz](https://film.one/person/amy-seimetz.md), [Andrew Guest](https://film.one/person/andrew-guest.md), [Beth McCarthy-Miller](https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller.md), [Chris McKenna](https://film.one/person/chris-mckenna.md), [Erik Sommers](https://film.one/person/erik-sommers.md), [Francesca Sloane](https://film.one/person/francesca-sloane.md), [Gail Mancuso](https://film.one/person/gail-mancuso.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 84 (2), 2010s 75 (7), 2020s 62 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 66 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 7, Animation 4, Comedy 4, Family 4, Action 3, Science Fiction 3
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $5,527m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Glover, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1239933, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2255973/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/119589

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Atlanta*](https://film.one/tv/atlanta.md) (87), [*Spider-Man: Homecoming*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-homecoming.md) (74), [*Solo: A Star Wars Story*](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md) (58), [*The Lion King*](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md) (52)
- **Hulu:** [*30 Rock*](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md) (86), [*Community*](https://film.one/tv/community.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mr. & Mrs. Smith*](https://film.one/tv/mr-and-mrs-smith.md) (73)
- **Peacock:** [*The Super Mario Galaxy Movie*](https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie.md) (38)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Donald Glover

> Donald Glover is a better maker of television than a performer of it, and knows it. His best acting serves things he wrote, and his best writing keeps him at the edge of the frame. *Atlanta* is the case; the film roles are footnotes.

Watch Earnest 'Earn' Marks in *Atlanta* (2016) and notice how little the man who made the show gives himself. Earn is quick and broke and not easy to like, and the writers, Glover among them, never soften him. The centre goes to Brian Tyree Henry's Alfred, the cousin with the hit single and no wish to be looked at, and Glover spends four seasons standing slightly to one side of his own programme. It is the opposite of what he did on *Community* (2009), where Troy Barnes was the warmest person on campus, an ex-quarterback allowed to be a boy again whenever Danny Pudi's Abed let him. Both are good performances. Only one of them is the point.

The career runs in an unusual order. He wrote for *30 Rock* from 2006 to 2009, straight out of NYU, on scripts generous with small jokes as well as the ones that drive a scene. Then he acted, as Troy until 2014, and made records as Childish Gambino alongside. *Atlanta* (2016–2022) was the turn: he created it, wrote and directed some of it and played the lead, and by his own account the network expected something like *Community* and got something else. "I was Trojan-horsing FX," he said, and the show bears him out. Whole episodes pass without a gig or a meeting.

It works because of patience, and because of Hiro Murai, who directed a great many episodes and shoots a comedy about two cousins as if it were a film. The writers, Stephen Glover and Stefani Robinson among them, treat the premise as an excuse; LaKeith Stanfield's Darius says the strangest thing in any scene in the calmest voice. Alfred moved us more than we expected, a man tired of being recognised before he is famous enough for it to pay, and that is Glover's doing as much as Henry's: he wrote the part and then got out of its way. The first two seasons are close to faultless. The third loses its nerve for a while, and some viewers found its parables about race lecturing where the earlier seasons had trusted them. We half agree.

The film work is a smaller matter. His Lando in *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018) is vain, unhurried, dressed in mustard and burgundy by Glyn Dillon and David Crossman, and the film brightens when he walks in; he is worth the ticket on his own. Aaron Davis in *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017) barely registers. Yoshi in *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* (2026) is a pleasure for the minutes he has. He has since voiced Simba (2019) and made *Mr & Mrs Smith* (2024).

He retired the Gambino name around 2024, so what he does is now all on screen. Start with *Atlanta*, then *Community*, and take the films as an afternoon of cameos. What he makes next he will not tell anyone in advance, and on the evidence of how *Atlanta* got made, that is the only reliable sign that he means it.

## Biography

Donald Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian and musician who performs music under the name Childish Gambino. He was born on 25 September 1983 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. After studying dramatic writing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, he joined the writing staff of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock in 2006.

Glover gained prominence for his role as Troy Barnes in the NBC series Community (2009–2014). He created, wrote, produced, directed and starred in the FX series Atlanta (2016–2022), for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. His film roles include Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and the voice of Simba in The Lion King (2019). He voices Yoshi in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026).

*Sources: pitchfork.com, britannica.com, biography.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (13)

### Performed in (9) — the average rests on these

- *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* (2026), Fi1m 38, as Yoshi (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie.md)
- *Mufasa: The Lion King* (2024), Fi1m 57, as Simba (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/mufasa-the-lion-king.md)
- *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), Fi1m 82, as Aaron Davis — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse.md)
- *The Lion King* (2019), Fi1m 52, as Simba (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md)
- *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018), Fi1m 58, as Lando Calrissian — [page](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Aaron Davis — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-homecoming.md)
- *Girls* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Sandy — [page](https://film.one/tv/girls.md)
- *The Muppets* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Junior CDE Executive — [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md)
- *Community* (2009), Fi1m 83, as Troy Barnes — [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)

### Directed (2)

- *Mr. & Mrs. Smith* (2024), Fi1m 73, as John Smith — [page](https://film.one/tv/mr-and-mrs-smith.md)
- *Atlanta* (2016), Fi1m 87, as Earnest 'Earn' Marks — [page](https://film.one/tv/atlanta.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *30 Rock* (2006), Fi1m 86, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)

### Crew (1)

- *Get Out* (2017), Fi1m 89, Songs — [page](https://film.one/film/get-out.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Super Mario Galaxy Movie* (2026), as Yoshi (voice) — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/the-super-mario-galaxy-movie.md)
- *Mufasa: The Lion King* (2024), as Simba (voice) — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/mufasa-the-lion-king.md)
- *Mr. & Mrs. Smith* (2024), series, as John Smith · Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Creator — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/mr-and-mrs-smith.md)
- *The Heart* (2023), Executive Producer
- *Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake* (2023), series, as Marshall Lee (voice), Marshall Lee / Monster Marshall (voice)
- *Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse* (2023), as Aaron Davis — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse.md)
- *Swarm* (2023), series, Executive Producer, Director, Creator, Story
- *Community Table Read* (2020), as Troy Barnes
- *The Lion King* (2019), as Simba (voice) — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lion-king-2019.md)
- *Men in Black: International* (2019), as Alien on TV Monitor (uncredited)
- *The Lion King: Can You Feel The Love Tonight with Robin Roberts* (2019), Actor
- *Guava Island* (2019), as Deni Maroon · Story, Producer
- *Solo: A Star Wars Story* (2018), as Lando Calrissian — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/solo-a-star-wars-story.md)
- *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017), as Aaron Davis — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-homecoming.md)
- *Get Out* (2017), as Songs — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/get-out.md)
- *Atlanta* (2016), series, as Earnest 'Earn' Marks · Writer, Executive Producer, Director, Creator — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/atlanta.md)
- *The Martian* (2015), as Rich Purnell — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-martian.md)
- *Magic Mike XXL* (2015), as Andre
- *China, Il The Musical* (2015), as Transfer Billy
- *The Lazarus Effect* (2015), as Niko
- *Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day* (2014), as Greg
- *Chicken and Futility* (2014), as The Boy · Writer, Director
- *Clapping for the Wrong Reasons* (2013), as The Boy · Writer, Executive Producer, Original Music Composer
- *The To Do List* (2013), as Derrick
- *Girls* (2012), series, as Sandy — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/girls.md)
- *Donald Glover: Weirdo* (2012), Writer
- *The Muppets* (2011), as Junior CDE Executive — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-muppets.md)
- *China, IL* (2011), series, as Transfer Billy (voice)
- *Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III* (2010), as Mace Windu / Scout Trooper / Stormtrooper (voice)
- *Regular Show* (2010), series, as Alpha Dog (voice)
- *Adventure Time* (2010), series, as Marshall Lee (voice)
- *Donald Glover: Comedy Central Presents* (2010), Writer
- *Community* (2009), series, as Troy Barnes — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Mystery Team* (2009), as Jason Rogers · Screenplay, Story, Executive Producer, Original Music Composer
- *Mystery Team Adventures: The Case of the Haunted Hotel* (2009), as Jason
- *Bronx World Travelers* (2007), series, as Snoopy Brown
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, as Young P.A., Young Tracy Jordan, Gay Kid · Writer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Lando*, as Lando Calrissian · Writer
- *Untitled Community Movie*, as Troy Barnes
- *Bando Stone & The New World*, as Bando Stone · Director

## Gallery

- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-66bfc630e8cb.jpg) Donald Glover — Bill Ingalls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Donald_Glover_TIFF_2015.jpg/1280px-Donald_Glover_TIFF_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Childish Gambino rocking out at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC, with musicians Drew McLean, Kersten Stevens and Justin Goldner (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-5e1e73d711e9.jpg) Childish Gambino rocking out at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC, with musicians Drew McLean, Kersten Stevens and Justin Goldner (2010) — MephistoPuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Childish_Gambino-Bowery_Ballroom-1.jpg/1280px-Childish_Gambino-Bowery_Ballroom-1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Childish Gambino rocking out at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC, with musicians Drew McLean, Kersten Stevens and Justin Goldner (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-59250378984c.jpg) Childish Gambino rocking out at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC, with musicians Drew McLean, Kersten Stevens and Justin Goldner (2010) — MephistoPuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Childish_Gambino-Bowery_Ballroom-1_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Childish Gambino in a concert at Austin, TX (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-8b6fd7b4a83e.jpg) Childish Gambino in a concert at Austin, TX (2012) — EWatson92, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Childish_Gambino.jpg/1280px-Childish_Gambino.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-ee572cf179d4.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-d9925e5b779f.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-f19673362b49.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Childish Gambino (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-9f12a22a3473.jpg) Childish Gambino (2014) — The Deli New England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Childish_Gambino_%2815015361927%29.jpg/1280px-Childish_Gambino_%2815015361927%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Childish Gambino (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-d230e81f2bc7.jpg) Childish Gambino (2014) — The Deli New England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Childish_Gambino_%2815178926456%29.jpg/1280px-Childish_Gambino_%2815178926456%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-84855fc008c1.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-12498600e2d0.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB
- ![Donald Glover](https://film.one/media/person/6908/gallery-5fdc6f9da209.jpg) Donald Glover — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Golden Globes — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2023: Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (nominated), for *Atlanta*
- 2017: Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (won), for *Atlanta*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 2017: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (won), for *Atlanta*
- 2017: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Atlanta*

### Other awards — 5 won

- Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance 2018: Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Music Video 2018: Grammy Award for Best Music Video (won)
- Grammy Award for Song of the Year 2018: Grammy Award for Song of the Year (won)
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Song 2015: Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (won)
- Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance 2015: Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/donald-glover